Bill Sequist slams the Advance for urging caution on hydrofracking in New York (Dec. 13), but misunderstands the basics.

Fracking — on the scale now contemplated through technology only recently available — has never occurred in N.Y. (and only relatively recently has occurred elsewhere).So, we simply don’t know whether modern fracking can be done cleanly and healthily: Youngstown, Ohio, stopped fracking after it caused several earthquakes.

One potential concern still unevaluated: radioactive, carcinogenic radon gas found in upstate Marcellus Shale at higher levels than elsewhere, which would also be delivered sooner to NYC consumers than gas produced in the southern U.S. to southerners. With its 3.8 day half-life, radon in natural gas entering NYC homes could lead to epidemic lung cancer. The issue must be assessed and addressed.

Fracking enriches some localities and owners through leases and rights, but affords locals very few jobs: Outside specialists are hired for a few years, and that’s it. A key question: How much damage is done to the “commonwealth,” and will the company that does the damage pay the whole bill?

Upstate N.Y.’s industrial economy was not wrecked by government bureaucracy, but by change -- cheaper production of most everything elsewhere, particularly overseas.